Senate Republicans are preparing to overhaul confirmation procedures in response to unprecedented obstruction from Democrats, who have blocked President Donald Trump from receiving a single voice vote or unanimous consent confirmation—marking a first in modern Senate history. This coordinated delay campaign has left hundreds of key positions in the administration vacant and forced time-consuming roll call votes on nominees who ultimately receive broad bipartisan support.
For decades, both parties accepted the principle that a duly elected president should be allowed to staff his administration swiftly. This understanding allowed hundreds of noncontroversial nominees to be confirmed by voice vote or unanimous consent. President Biden, for example, had 405 Senate-confirmed nominees in place by this time in 2022, with 230 confirmed by voice vote. Under President Trump, that precedent has been abandoned.
Democrats’ blanket obstruction has weaponized the confirmation process against the Trump administration. Delays have nothing to do with the qualifications of the nominees—many are confirmed by large margins after unnecessary delays—and everything to do with denying President Trump the ability to govern effectively. These tactics have sidelined capable public servants and left critical roles unfilled across federal agencies.
The result has been a historic drag on the Senate’s work. The current Senate has already taken more roll call votes in eight months than most complete in a full year. More hours have been spent in session than in any Senate since the mid-2000s. Still, confirmations remain behind the pace of previous administrations. To catch up, the Senate would need to hold over 600 more roll call votes—exceeding the number already cast this year.
In response, Senate Republicans are advancing a rule reform modeled on a previous bipartisan proposal from Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Angus King (I-ME). The new plan would allow batches of noncontroversial nominees to move together, breaking the logjam created by Democrat obstruction. This adjustment aims to restore the Senate’s traditional role in staffing the executive branch without partisan sabotage.
This week, Republicans will initiate the procedural steps needed to implement this reform. The goal is to return to a functional Senate confirmation process and ensure that President Trump’s administration can fully execute the policies chosen by the American people in the last election. The move comes after good-faith efforts to cooperate were met with continued stonewalling from Democrat leadership.
